Photographic apparatus with means for adjusting the exposure control in dependency on the sensitivity of film

ABSTRACT

A photographic camera wherein the exposure control is automatically adjusted as a function of the speed of film in the inserted magazine. The camera has a door which opens automatically in response to unlocking and thereby disengages one or more scanning members from coding elements on the inserted magazine. The scanning member or members form part of one or more slides which are coupled to one or more adjustable parts of the exposure control and are biased in directions to move the scanning members into engagement with the corresponding coding elements. The door opening mechanism includes a strong spring which biases a lever against the door so that the lever tends to move the door toward its open position. The lever engages and retracts the slide or slides while it pivots in a direction to open the door.

United States Patent Neudecker et al.

1 51 June 6, 1972 3,461,782 8/1969 Yoshihisa Katsiiyamami ..95/3l FSMEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE 3322331 31323 $iii"' 3213i 52 1 armeta.

EXPOSURE CONTROL IN V 1' 3,364,831 1/1968 'Kremp et a1. 95/31 FSDEPENDENCY ON H SENSITIVITY 3,410,186 11/1968 T615116 Kaneko.......9s/31 FS x F FILM 3,495,513 2/1970 Engelsmann et a1. ..95/ 0 [72]Inventors: Karl Neudeeker} Anton Theer, both of A primary Examine,.|oseph peters 1n Mumch, Germany Attorney-Michael s. Striker [73]Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Aktiengesellschah, Leverkusen, Germany [57]ABSTRACT A photographic camera wherein the exposure control is auto-[22] p 1970 matically adjusted as a function of the speed of film in thein- 211 Appl 75,501 sened magazine. The camera has a door which opensautomaticalIy in response to unlocking and thereby disengages one ormore scanning members from coding elements on the in- Fm'elgn pplPriority Data serted magazine. The scanning member or members form partof one or more slides which are coupled to one or more ad- Oct. 1, 1969Germany ..G 69 38 210.1 justable p of the exposure comm] and are biasedin 5 directions to move the scanning members into engagement [52]U.S.Cl. ..95/31 FS, 95/10 C, 352/72 with the corresponding codingelements. The door opening [51 III. Cl. ..G03b 17/18 mechanism includgsa strong spring which biases a lever [58] Field of Search .,95/ 10 C, 31R, 31 FS, 31 CA; against the door so that the lever tends to move hedoor 3 78, I41 'toward its open position. The lever engages and retractsthe slide or slides while it pivots in a direction to open the door.[56] References Cited I 10 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure UNITED STATESPATENTS v 3,266,398 8/1966 Kremp et a1. ..95/ 31 FS 1 r j 6 M 17 7 '5 g4 9 r a 7 3 I. I l I 1 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS wrm ADJUSTING THE EXPOSURECONTROL IN DEPENDENCY ON THE SENSITIVITY OF FILM BACKGROUND or THEINVENTION The present invention relates to photographic apparatus ingeneral, and more particularly to improvements in photographic apparatuswherein the exposure control means can be automatically adjusted independency on one or more characteristics of photographic film, forexample, in dependency on the speed or sensitivity of film. Still moreparticularly, the invention relates to improvements in photographicapparatus wherein a scanning member which can engage coding means on thecontainer for photographic film in a still camera or motion picturecamera is automatically disengaged from the coding means when the useropens a door or cover to gain access to the container.

- It is already known to provide still cameras or motion picture cameraswith suitable scanning means which can automatically adjust a lightmeter or another assembly of the exposure control means in dependency ona characteristic of the film stored in a container which is properlyinserted into the housing of the camera. As a rule, the scanning meansis biased toward engagement with the coding means and, in order not todamage the scanning means during insertion or removal of filmcontainers, certain cameras already comprise means for effectingwithdrawal or disengagement of the scanning means from the associatedcoding means on opening of the door or cover so as to make sure that thescanning means and/or the exposure control means cannot be damagedduring removal or insertion of containers. The present invention relatesto improvements in the just outlined types of cameras.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide aphotographic apparatus wherein a cover, a door or an analogous movableportionof the camera housing or body is operatively associated with thescanning means for coding means on containers for photographic film in anovel and improved way.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a camera of the justoutlined character with novel and improved adjusting means for theexposure control means.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a camera wherein theexposure control means canbe adjusted in dependency onseveralcharacteristics'of photographic film.

, An additional object of the invention is to provide a photographicapparatus wherein themechanism for disengaging the scanning means fromthe coding means of a container in the camera body occupies little roomand consists of a small number of simple and inexpensive parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a camera wherein thedoor or cover is automatically opened in response to unlocking andwherein such automatic opening of the door or cover entails automaticpositive disengagement of one or more scanning or sensing means from thecorresponding coding element or elements of a film container.

The invention is embodied in a motion picture camera which comprises ahousing or body having a chamber and including a portion (e.g., a dooror cover) which is movable between open and closed positions torespectively permit and prevent access to the chamber, a film containerremovably received in the chamber and having thereon coding means whichindicates at least one characteristic of the film in the container,adjustable exposure control means installed in or on the housing (suchexposure control means may include a diaphragm which is adjustable by alight meter having a galavanometer in circuit with a photosensitivereceiver which is exposed to scene light and which can influence theaperture size by being partly or fully exposed to scene light or bybeing completely sealed from scene light), adjusting means havingscanning means and operatively connected with the exposure control meansso that, when the adjusting means is caused to move relative to thehousing between several positions, the exposure control means isadjusted in automatic response to movement of the adjusting means, firstbiasing means for urging the scanning means of the adjusting meansagainst the coding means of the container in the chamber of the housingso that, when the scanning means engages the coding means, theadjustmentof the exposure control means is a function of therespectivecharacteristic of film in the inserted container, and secondbiasing or door opening means for urging the movable portion of thehousing toward its open position and for preferably directly disengagingthe scanning means from the coding means of the container in the chamberin response to movement of the movable portion toward its open position.Thus, the second biasing means can overcome the action of the firstbiasing means as soon as the movable portion is permitted to move towardits open position. When the camera is in use, the movable portion isnormally locked in theclosed position by a latch or the-like. In orderto insure that the second biasing means can move the movable portion ofthe housing to its open position, the operator must unlatch the movableportion; the movable portion thereupon opens automatically and thesecond biasing means then automatically disengages the scanning meansfrom the coding means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved photographic apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing. Y

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a schematicfragmentary horizontal sectional view of a still camera which embodiesthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawing illustrates aportion of a still camera which includes a housing or body 1 having amovable portion or door 10 which pivotable between a closed positionindicated by solid lines and an open or partlyopen position 10'indicated by phantom lines. The housing 1 defines an internal chamber lawhich is accessible in the open position of the door 10 but is sealedwhen the door is caused-to'move to and remains in the closed position.The camera is-further provided with a suitable locking or latchmechanism, for example, a mechanism having a knob 10a provided on thedoor 10 and turnable between locking and unlocking positions to therebyprevent or permit movement of the door to and beyond the position I0.The details of the locking mechanism form no pan of the presentinvention.

The chamber la of the housing 1 can receive film containers 2 in theform of magazines or cassettes having thereon one or more codingelements constituting a coding means which is indicative of one or morecharacteristics of the film in the container 2. The drawing shows afirst coding element 2a which is a notch provided in the left-hand wallof the container 2, and a second coding element 2b which forms anintegral part of the left-hand wall.

The adjustable exposure control means of the camera comprises a lightmeter having a photosensitive receiver 8 which is exposed to scene lightand a filter 7 which can constitute a .translucent or opaque foil orwhose light transmissivity varies,

and which is pivotable in the housing 1 about a shaft 6 so that it canmove between at least two positions which are respectively indicated bysolid lines and phantom lines. In the solidline position, the filter 7is located adjacent to the path of scene light which impinges on thereceiver 8 (e.g.,a photosensitive resistor) so that the resistance ofthe receiver 8 is relatively low. In the phantom line position 7', thefilter 7 overlaps the receiver 8 so that the latters resistanceincreases. Such change in resistance of the receiver 8 influences theexposure, for example, by causing a change in the aperture size definedby a suitable diaphragm. The filter 7 has a rectangular aperture 7a andis directly coupled to a bent-over end portion 3a of a reciprocableadjusting member or slide 3 which is mounted in the housing 1 formovement between a plurality of positions each of which corresponds to adifferent adjustment of the exposure control. The end portion 3a has apolygonal tip 5 which extends into the aperture 7a of the filter 7. Asecond end portion 3b of the adjusting member 3 is rigid or integralwith the end portion 3a and constitutes a scanning or sensing memberwhich engages the coding element 2a of the inserted container 2 tothereby efi'ect an adjustment of the filter 7 (and hence of theadjustable exposure control) as a function of the sensitivity or speedof the film in the container 2. it is assumed that the characteristicwhich is indicated by the coding element 20 is the sensitivity or speedof the film. The coding element 2b can be indicative of a secondcharacteristic of the film, for example, whether the film is intendedfor use in daylight or with artificial illumination of the subject.

A first biasing means here shown as including a relatively weak helicalspring 14 operates between the adjusting member 3 and the housing 1 andurges the scanning member 3b toward engagement with (Le, into) thecoding element 20. A median portion of the adjusting member 3 isprovided with a shoulder or abutment 4 which can be engaged by one armof a pivotable member or lever 9 forming part of a second biasing ordoor opening means which permanently urges the door 10 toward the openposition 10. The second biasing means further includes a torsion spring11 which is stronger than the spring 14 and is convoluted around a pivot12 for the lever 9. The mounting of the torsion spring 11 is such thatthe arm of the lever 9 tends to pivot the door 10 in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in the drawing. The position 9 in which the lever 9holds the door 10 in the open position 10' is indicated by phantomlines. The lever 9 then directly engages the shoulder 4 of the adjustingmember 3 and holds the scanning member 3b in a retracted position (seethe position 30' of the end portion 3a) in which the scanning member 3bis sufficiently disengaged from the coding element 2a to permitunimpeded insertion or removal of containers 2 from the chamber 1a. Itwill be noted that the axis of the pivot 12 for the lever 9 is parallelwith and rather closely adjacent to the axis of the pintle 13 of thehinge which secures the door 10 to the housing 1. This is desirablebecause the lever 9 is then capable of producing a strong opening forceeven though its door-engaging arm is rather short and because the lever9 can move the door to a fully or nearly fully open position.

The operation:

The user of the camera inserts a fresh container 2 into the chamber 10while the door 10 is held in its open position. The torsion spring 11then holds the lever 9 of the second biasing means in the position 9' sothat the lever bears directly against the shoulder 4 and holds theadjusting member 3 in a position in which the scanning member 3b issufficiently retracted to permit unimpeded removal of the previouslyemployed container and unimpeded insertion of the illustrated container2.

The end portion 3a of the adjusting member 3 maintains the filter 7 inthe position 7' so that the filter overlies the photosensitive receiver8.

The user thereupon moves the door 10 to the closed position and actuatesthe knob 10a so as to prevent unintentional opening of the door. As thedoor moves from the position 10' toward the solid-line position, itsinner side pivots the lever 9 counterclockwise against the opposition ofthe torsion spring 11 whereby the lever 9 moves its edge face 9acounterclockwise. This enables the spring 14 to move the adjustingmember 3 in a direction to the right toward the illustrated position sothat the scanning member 3b automatically enters the coding element 2a.Consequently, the end portion 3a of the adjusting member 3 pivots thefilter 7 from the position 7 to the solid-line position so that thefilter cannot obstruct scene light from reaching the receiver 8. Suchpivoting of the filter 7 away from the path for scene light constitutesan adjustment of the exposure control means as a function of thesensitivity of film in the inserted container 2.

4 If the container in the chamber 1a contains a film whose sensitivityis different from the sensitivity of the film in the illustratedcontainer, the container in the chamber la will have a different codingelement in such position that the coding element is engaged by thescanning member 3b when the container is properly inserted into thehousing 1. For example, the sensitivity-indicating coding element ofsuch container may be identical with the coding element 2b, i.e., it mayform part of the left-hand wall of the inserted container. When the door10 is thereupon moved from the phantom-line position 10' toward theclosed position, the lever 9 of the second biasing means is pivoted inthe same way as described above; however, the scanning member 3b engagesthe corresponding coding element (i.e., a portion of the left-hand wallof the inserted container) and is thereby held in such position that thefilter 7 (in the position 7) continues to overlap the photosensitivereceiver 8. This constitutes an adjustment of the exposure control meansas a function of the sensitivity of film in the container which islocated in the chamber la. It is clear that the filter 7 can be movedbetween three or more positions if the camera is designed to accommodatecontainers with films of three or more different sensitivities-Also, theadjusting member 3 can be used to adjust a retard mechanism in theshutter, to directly adjust the diaphragm, to adjust a variable resistorother than the receiver 8, and/or to adjust one or more other parts ofthe exposure control means in a still camera or motion picture camera.

As soon as the user of the camera moves the knob 10a to the unlockingposition, the spring 11 immediately propels the door 10 toward theposition 10 whereby thelever 9 withdraws the scanning member 3b fromengagement with the coding element 2a (or with a different codingelement) so that the container can be readily withdrawn from the chamberla or a new container inserted into the chamber without any damage tothe adjusting member 3 and/or to the exposure control. p

The drawing further shows a portion of a second scanning member 33(behind the broken-away part of the scanning member 3b) which can engagethe coding element 2b of the inserted container 2. The scanning member3B can form part of a second adjusting member which adjusts another partor assembly of the exposure control means in dependency on anothercharacteristic of film in the inserted container, for example, independency on the type of film (whether for use in daylight or inartificial light). The scanning member 3B can be used to determine theposition of another filter which is movable into and from the path oflight passing through the picture taking objective and impinging on theunexposed film frames. The adjusting member 3 can be mounted for pivotalmovement between a plurality of positions. v

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a photographic apparatus, a combination comprising a housinghaving a chamber; a film container removably received in said chamberand having coding means to indicate at least one characteristic of thefilm therein; said housing including a portion movable between spacedapart open and closed positions to respectively permit and preventaccess to said chamber for insertion and removal of said film container;adjustable exposure control means in said housing; adjusting meanshaving scanning means and operatively connected with said exposurecontrol means, said adjusting means being movable in said housingbetween a plurality of positions each of which corresponds to adifferent adjustment of said exposure control means; first biasing meansfor urging said scanning means against the codingmeans of the containerin said chamber so that, when the scanning means engages a coding means,the adjustment of said exposure control means is a function of saidcharacteristic of film in the respective container; and second biasingmeans for urging said portion of said housing to said open position andfor disengaging said scanning means from the coding means of thecontainer in said chamber against the opposition of said first biasingmeans when said portion of said housing is free to move to said openposition under the action of said second biasing means.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said portion of saidhousing is pivotable between said open and closed positions about afirst axis and wherein said second biasing means comprises a leverpivotable in said housing about a second pivot axis closely adjacent tosaid first axis, said lever having an arm and said secondv biasing meansfurther comprising spring means urging said arm against said portion ofsaid housing to thereby bias said portion toward its open position.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means isreciprocable in said housing between said plurality of positions.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means hasa shoulder and said second biasing means comprises a member which bearsagainst said shoulder to thereby hold said scanning means away fromengagement with the coding means of the container in said chamber atleast in the open position of said portion.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said exposure controlmeans comprises photosensitive receiver means normally exposed to scenelight and filter means receiving motion from said adjusting means andmovable into and away from the path of scene light which impinges onsaid receiver means in response to movements of said adjusting means.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said chamber is arrangedto accommodate containers of the type whereon the coding means comprisesa plurality of coding elements and wherein said scanning means comprisesa plurality of scanning members each arranged to engage a difi'erentcoding element of the container in said chamber.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said exposure controlmeans comprises a filter which is movable between plural positions inresponse to movement of said ad justing means.

8. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said biasingmeans comprises at least one spring and wherein the spring of saidsecond biasing means is stronger than the spring of said first biasingmeans.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said coding meanscomprises a notch on the film container.

10. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said exposure controlmeans comprises an adjustable member which is directly coupled to afirst portion of said adjusting means and wherein said scanning meansconstitutes a second portion of said adjusting means and is rigid withsaid first portion.

II t i I i

1. In a photographic apparatus, a combination comprising a housinghaving a chamber; a film container removably received in said chamberand having coding means to indicate at least one characteristic of thefilm therein; said housing including a portion movable between spacedapart open and closed positions to respectively permit and preventaccess to said chamber for insertion and removal of said film container;adjustable exposure control means in said housing; adjusting meanshaving scanning means and operatively connected with said exposurecontrol means, said adjusting means being movable in said housingbetween a plurality of positions each of which corresponds to adifferent adjustment of said exposure control means; first biasing meansfor urging said scanning means against the coding means of the containerin said chamber so that, when the scanning means engages a coding means,the adjustment of said exposure control means is a function of saidcharacteristic of film in the respective container; and second biasingmeans for urging said portion of said housing to said open position andfor disengaging said scanning means from the coding means of thecontainer in said chamber against the opposition of said first biasingmeans when said portion of said housing is free to move to said openposition under the action of said second biasing means.
 2. A combinationas defined in claim 1, wherein said portion of said housing is pivotablebetween said open and closed positions about a first axis and whereinsaid second biasing means comprises a lever pivotable in said housingabout a second pivot axis closely adjacent to said first axis, saidlever having an arm and said second biasing means further comprisingspring means urging said arm against said portion of said housing tothereby bias said portion toward its open position.
 3. A combination asdefined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means is reciprocable in saidhousing between said plurality of positions.
 4. A combination as definedin claim 1, wherein said adjusting means has a shoulder and said secondbiasing means comprises a member which bears against said shoulder Tothereby hold said scanning means away from engagement with the codingmeans of the container in said chamber at least in the open position ofsaid portion.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein saidexposure control means comprises photosensitive receiver means normallyexposed to scene light and filter means receiving motion from saidadjusting means and movable into and away from the path of scene lightwhich impinges on said receiver means in response to movements of saidadjusting means.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein saidchamber is arranged to accommodate containers of the type whereon thecoding means comprises a plurality of coding elements and wherein saidscanning means comprises a plurality of scanning members each arrangedto engage a different coding element of the container in said chamber.7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said exposure controlmeans comprises a filter which is movable between plural positions inresponse to movement of said adjusting means.
 8. A combination asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of said biasing means comprises atleast one spring and wherein the spring of said second biasing means isstronger than the spring of said first biasing means.
 9. A combinationas defined in claim 1, wherein said coding means comprises a notch onthe film container.
 10. A combination as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid exposure control means comprises an adjustable member which isdirectly coupled to a first portion of said adjusting means and whereinsaid scanning means constitutes a second portion of said adjusting meansand is rigid with said first portion.